Freewheeling Conversations with acclaimed Historian Romila Thapar

Freewheeling Conversations with acclaimed Historian Romila Thapar

06 Nov 2018

Much acclaimed Historian Romila Thapar will take part in the third edition of Kerala Literature Festival where you can expect an open dialogue of the Thapar on various contemporary issues.

Her take on academic freedom, nationalism, sedition, and free speech has always created many stirs in the national level. In her new book, Ms Thapar has stated that nationalism cannot be reduced merely to waving flags and shouting slogans and penalising people for not shouting slogans like Bharat Mata ki Jai.
This declaration made Thapar once again to be in news as the statement hurted certain groups.
Targeting the latest brand of nationalism, Ms Thapar added that, “Sloganeering or flag waving smack of a lack of confidence among those making the demand for slogans.”

Romila Thapar has groomed generations of students in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and earlier in Delhi University. Frank in her view she points out, “Nationalism does not allow the Hindu in India or the Muslim in Pakistan to claim primacy and privilege as a citizen on the basis of being members of a religious majority community.”

She had raised her voice on topics like Why We Need a New Understanding of Civilization, The Changing Context of the ‘Revolutionary Terrorist’ Tag, What Secularism is and Where It Needs to Be Headed and she also warned on the assault on JNU saying it’s a part of a pattern.
Thapar earned he doctorate under A. L. Basham at the School of Oriental and African Studies, the University of London in 1958.

Romila Thapar has also been a visiting professor at Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the College de France in Paris. She was elected the General President of the Indian History Congress in 1983 and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 1999. She has also been twice offered the Padma Bhushan award which she declined both times.

Join with us at Kerala Literature Festival where hundreds of writers, activists, artists, politicians and humanitarians come together to celebrate knowledge and to address various contemporary issues the common man faces. The third edition of KLF will kick start on 8th February 2018 and lasts till 11th February 2018 on the beautiful beach of Kozhikode.

KLF grows from its previous editions by incorporating more and more surprises for its audience coming from across the planet. BE THE FIRST to know the latest updates by visiting our site or even through KLF App which can be downloaded from both Android/IOS.

Registration is absolutely free. For those who wish to be a delegate can register for the same at Rs500 which includes Rs200 Gift Voucher (redeemable at the venue), Delegate Kit, Badges, Festival Souvenir, Calendar etc. Register at: http://www.keralaliteraturefestival.com/registration/